Republicans have long despised the federal government's involvement in education, but lawmakers in Tennessee are considering an unprecedented step: rejecting all federal funding in the name of ending what they call Washington's "excessive overreach."

"I want to make sure we provide a carrot to make sure this legislation gets passed," Gov. Greg Abbott said of vouchers. "Once [education savings accounts] are passed, I will put on the legislative agenda full funding for public education."

The approvals exceeded the state's estimations. When the private school scholarship program was approved earlier this year, the Legislative Services Agency estimated 14,068 students would use the program, costing the state $106.9 million

One in five students between the ages of 12 and 18 suffer bullying, as face-to-face harassment moves behind the anonymity of online attacks, according to federal estimates.